A Republican Pennsylvania senator behind a recently filed bipartisan marijuana legalization bill says supporters are “picking up votes” to enact the reform this session.
Speaking with FOX43 News in an interview released on Wednesday, Sen. Dan Laughlin (R) said support is growing because “people would rather [legalize cannabis] than do a tax increase to try and balance a budget,” referring to the revenue stream a legal marijuana market would generate for the state.
“We’re just ignoring the obvious that folks, you know, if they want to use cannabis, they already are,” he said. “I think that we should make it safe, legal [and] put it in a controlled environment that keeps it out of the hands of children as best we can. The state needs the revenue.”
Laughlin introduced legislation to legalize cannabis for adult-use alongside Sen. Sharif Street (D). The pair have long championed the reform, but efforts have consistently stalled out.
A legalization bill that would’ve created state-run cannabis stores did pass the House this session, but it was quickly quashed in a Senate committee. Now there are several alternative proposals under consideration in the legislature, including the measure from Laughlin and Street.
Rep. Amen Brown
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